Geography. 'The Earth is divided into Realmes'.
London: 1686. A copper engraved map by Richard Blome [1635-1705] a publisher and cartographer. This is the title page for Blome's famous works on the science of Geography, which includes a double hemisphere World map with California shown as an island.
The surrounding oval contains engravings showing how the land is measured and divided; 'The Earth is divided into Realmes, Realmes into Provinces, Provinces into Regions, Regions into Countreys, Countreys into Territories, Territories into Lands, Lands into Acres, Acres into Rodds, Rodds into Paces, Paces into Feet, Feet into Inches and Inches into Barly-corns'. At the bottom is an illustration of a cartographer's studio. At top are the royal coat of arms and a dedication to the Right Honorable George Berkeley, dated 1678. Published between 1686 and 1710.
Richard Blome was one of the most interesting, and most active, publishers of illustrated books in post-Restoration London. There is an excellent biography on MapForum dot com.
References: Shirley #479.
Original hand colored, copper engraving, 10 1/8 x 15 3/4" Item #27737
Price: $450.00